Cleaning device for door handles and push plates

ABSTRACT

A cleaning device for door handles and door push plates comprising a housing ( 60 ) for mounting on a door, the housing having a reservoir ( 76 ) of disinfectant liquid and a spray head ( 71 ), an actuating arm ( 72 ) which projects outwardly from the housing and is in use operatively associated with a door frame in which the door is mounted, such that opening or closing of the door causes movement of the actuating arm ( 72 ) to operate the spray head and to spray a disinfectant liquid onto the door handle, door to push plate or other door surface, wherein the actuating arm engages with the door frame to operate the spray head.

The present invention relates to a cleaning device for door handles andpush plates. In particular the invention will have application inrelation to cleaning toilet door handles.

Toilet door handles are often contaminated by many individuals who failto wash their hands and these door handles become the source of generalcontamination in public areas. A particular problem arises in hospitalsand other establishments where there is likely to be a considerableamount of bacteria or other germs. In view of this problem, manyindividuals often try to open toilet doors with the minimum amount ofphysical contact with the door.

According to the invention there is provided a cleaning device for doorhandles and door push plates comprising a housing for mounting on adoor, the housing having a reservoir of disinfectant liquid and a sprayhead, an actuating arm which projects outwardly from the housing and isin use operatively associated with a door frame in which the door ismounted, such that opening or closing of the door causes movement of theactuating arm to operate the spray head and to spray a disinfectantliquid onto the door handle, door push plate or other door surface,wherein the actuating arm engages with the door frame to operate thespray head.

Preferably the apparatus is arranged such that closing of the doorcauses movement of the actuating arm to operate the spray head.

In another preferred embodiment, preferably opening of the door causesmovement of the actuating arm to operate the spray head.

Further preferably the actuating arm engages directly with the doorframe when the door is in a closed position.

Preferably the actuating arm is pivotably mounted in the housing.

In one embodiment of the invention preferably the actuating arm has adoor engaging portion.

More preferably, the door engaging portion projects forwardly of theplane of the housing which abuts the door.

The actuating arm has an actuating portion preferably disposed withinthe housing, to move a slidable arm (slider).

Preferably the actuating portion comprises a cam portion and as the dooris closed the cam portion causes movement of a sliding arm to actuatethe spray head.

Further preferably as the door is opened, the cam portion is released sothat the spray head acts against the sliding arm to move the sliding armand cam portion to its initial position.

The spray head is in liquid communication with a reservoir ofdisinfectant fluid contained within the housing.

The reservoir of liquid is preferably mounted above the spray head.

The spray head preferably has a boss and a spray nozzle.

The container is preferably connected to the spray head via a conduit.The conduit is preferably connected to a connector needle which ismounted in a boss.

In another embodiment of the invention, the housing has a container ofdisinfectant fluid, said container being movable within the housing.

The container is preferably pivotably mounted within the housing.

Preferably the movement of the actuating portion of the actuating arm asthe door is closed causes movement of the container within the housing.

Further preferably the container is connected to a spray head so thatmovement of the container causes operation of the spray head to spray acharge of disinfectant liquid.

As the door is opened, preferably the actuating arm is released torelease the cam portion so that the bias of the spray head returns thecontainer and cam portion to the initial position.

The cam portion preferably acts directly on a side wall of thecontainer.

The container and spray head may be one unit which is replaceable whenthe liquid in the container is depleted.

The housing preferably has a cover.

The spray head is preferably arranged to operate on closing of the door.

Preferably the door handle may be elongate and further preferably may berotatable.

The reference to a door handle will also include a push plate mounted ona door surface or indeed a particular portion of a door surface. Theinvention therefore provides an apparatus for applying a disinfectant toa door surface each time a door is opened or closed. The door surfacemay include one or more push plates.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a cleaningdevice according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cleaning deviceaccording to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 a is a schematic view of the apparatus of FIGS. 2 and 3 fixed ona door;

FIG. 4 b is a schematic view of the cleaning device with the door in anopen position;

FIG. 4 c is a schematic view of the cleaning device with the door in aclosed position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cleaning deviceaccording to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an underneath schematic view of the apparatus of FIG. 6 withthe door in an open position;

FIG. 8 is an underneath schematic view of the apparatus of FIG. 6 withthe door in a closed position;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a “left hand” version of the apparatus ofFIG. 5 mounted on a door;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the door and device in an open position;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the device with the door in a closedposition;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a cleaning deviceaccording to the invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of the slidable arm (slider) of theapparatus of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an actuating armfor an outwardly opening door according to the invention;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a cleaning device according to theinvention incorporating the actuating arm of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of another embodiment of cleaning apparatusaccording to the invention mounted on a door;

FIG. 18 is a partial end view of the door or FIG. 17 with an operatingarm mechanism mounted therein;

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of the operating arm mechanism of FIG. 18;and

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 17 with atrigger pin.

Referring now to the drawings wherein similar numerals will be used toindicate like parts, there is shown therein a cleaning device for doorhandles and push plates generally indicated at 10 according to theinvention. At the outset, it is pointed out that the apparatus may beconstructed to be fitted to a door which opens from the left hand sideor the right hand side and the device will be constructed accordingly.

It will further be understood that the device may be used on the insideor outside of a door and may be used on a door which opens inwardly oroutwardly.

The apparatus or device 10 is for dispensing a spray of disinfectantliquid onto a handle 11 or a push plate (not shown) mounted on a door 12(FIG. 4 a).

The apparatus 10 comprises a housing having a base plate 13 and a cover14. In FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a frame 15 which is mounted to the base13. The frame 15 has a slot 16 for accommodating a slideable arm(slider) 17 which can slide axially in the slot 16.

A spray head 18 is disposed at one end of the frame 15. An actuating arm19 is mounted at the opposite end of the base 13 to the spray head 18and projects laterally outwardly from the apparatus 10. The spray headis connected by a conduit 20 to a container of disinfectant liquid 21which is also mounted on the base 13. The container 21 has a nipple 22which is accommodated in a boss 23, the boss 23 having a needle 24 whichis connected to the conduit 20 so that a replacement bottle can bereadily engaged with the needle 24 when a new bottle is being put inplace. It will be appreciated that the container 21 in this embodimentcould be a flexible bag or pouch type of liquid container, or a solidwalled container.

The base 13 and the cover portion 14 together provide an enclosedhousing to secure the various components of the apparatus.

The construction shown in FIG. 1 is to be mounted on a door which opensfrom the right hand side whereas the construction shown in FIGS. 2 and 3is to fitted to a door which opens on the left hand side.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the spray head 18 is disposedbetween an end wall 25 of the frame 15 and the slidable arm (slider) 17.The spray head has an aperture 26 for spraying a charge of liquiddownwardly through an opening in the housing onto a door handle or pushplate 11.

The actuating arm 19 has a door frame engaging portion 30 and a camportion 31. The cam portion 31 is disposed within the housing and thedoor engaging portion projects forwardly of the plane of the base 13which abuts the door surface to which it is fitted in use. The actuatingarm 19 is pivotally mounted on the base 13 at 32.

The cam portion 31 engages a cam surface 33 on the slider 17 so thatmovement of the cam portion 31 against the slider 17, causes the sliderto move against the spray head 18 and cause activation of the spray headto produce a spray of liquid.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4 a-4C, in the open position of thedoor, the door frame engaging portion 30 of the actuating arm 19projects slightly adjacent the edge of the door as shown clearly in FIG.4 b. As the door is closed (FIG. 4 c) the door frame engaging portion 30engages with the door frame 40 causing the actuating arm 19 to pivot andcausing the cam portion 31 to engage the cam surface 33 of the slider17. The slider 17 therefore moves against the spray head to activate thespray head and produce a spray of liquid onto the handle 11. When thedoor is opened again, a spring bias in the spray head pushes against theslider 17 causing the actuating arm 19 to pivot and return to itsinitial position.

It will be appreciated that the handle 11 may be freely rotatable aboutits vertical axis. In another embodiment, the handle may be mountedhorizontally or it may be a conventional handle.

In this embodiment, when it is desired to replace the container ofdisinfectant liquid 21, it is a simple matter to remove the cover 14from the base of the unit and to replace the container 21.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-12 there is shown therein another embodiment ofthe invention. In this embodiment, the housing has a base 13 which holdsa container of disinfectant fluid 21 and the container 21 is moveablewithin the housing. The container is pivotably mounted on the base 13 bya boss 50 on the base projecting through an aperture 51 in thecontainer. The container 21 has mounted thereon a spray head 18 and thespray head 18 abuts a side wall 52 of the base 13. The actuating arm 19is mounted on the base 13 so that the cam portion 31 engages a side wall53 of the container 21. The spray head 18 may be attached to thecontainer 21 via a boss 54 or indeed may be integral with the container21.

In this embodiment the container 21 is of a solid wall constructionbeing substantially rigid to enable it to be moved by the actuating arm19. The container 21 and spray head 18 may be supplied as a refill unit,enabling easy replacement of the disinfectant when it needs to bereplenished.

In FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 there is shown the apparatus of FIG. 5 mounted toa door 12. In this embodiment, the apparatus is arranged for mounting toa left hand opening door. In FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown the door inthe open position (FIG. 7) and in the closed position (FIG. 8). When thedoor is closed, the door frame engaging portion 30 of the actuating arm19 abuts against the door frame 40 causing the actuating arm 19 to pivotso that the cam portion 31 engages against the side wall 53 of thecontainer 21 causing the container to move within the housing and tooperate the spray head 18. When the door is opened, the bias of thespray head 18 acts against the container 21 to move the container to itsinitial position and to also move the actuating arm 19 to its initialposition as shown in FIG. 7. It will be noted in FIG. 7 that the doorframe engaging portion 30 of the actuating arm 19 projects forwardly ofthe plane of the surface of the door on which the apparatus is mounted.

This embodiment of the invention has considerable advantagesparticularly in that the number of parts is considerably reduced andtherefore the cost of production is low and the reliability of theapparatus is extremely good.

The embodiments of the invention have the advantage that they provide asimple inexpensive and reliable apparatus to enable a spray ofdisinfectant liquid to be applied to a door handle, door push plate orother door surface when a door is opened or closed. In this regard, itwill be appreciated that the apparatus could be arranged to apply thespray of disinfectant liquid onto the door handle when the door is beingopened rather than when it is being closed.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14 there is shown therein anotherembodiment of a cleaning device generally indicated at 60 according tothe invention. This embodiment is useful where it is desirable to use aflexible bag or pouch type of liquid container or reservoir. The device60 has a base 13, the lower portion of which has a moveable slidable arm(slider) 70 mounted thereon. A spray head 71 is disposed at one end ofthe base and an actuating arm 72 is mounted at the opposite end. Aflange 73 on the spray head 71 abuts against a sidewall of the base 13.The spray head 71 is connected by a conduit 74 via a boss 75 to aflexiable bag or pouch type of container shown in dotted outline at 76.

The slider 70 has a cam surface 77. The actuating arm 72 is mounted onthe base 13, as described previously in relation to the previousembodiments and also in relation to the following embodiments. A camportion 79 of the actuating arm 72 engages the cam surface 77 of theslider 70 so that movement of the arm 72 and cam portion 79 causes theslider 70 to move against the spray head 71 and cause activation of thespray head, to spray a disinfectant liquid onto a door handle or doorpush plate.

The conduit 74 may be engaged in spring urged clips 80 mounted on theslider 70. It is envisage that the flexible bag or pouch 76, the boss 75together with the conduit 74 and the spray head 71 may if desired besupplied as a “refill” so that when a bag 76 is empty it may be removedincluding the conduit 74 and spray head 71 and replaced with a completenew system.

It will be clear therefore that the invention further provides a refillcontainer of disinfectant fluid having a conduit connected to a sprayhead, for a cleaning device.

Further the invention provides a refill container of disinfectant fluidhaving a conduit for connecting to a spray head.

It will be clear that the actuating member 72 is similar to that of theactuating member 19 described in relation to the other embodiments andthat the components and parts of the various embodiments areinterchangeable.

Referring now to FIGS. 15 and 16 there is shown another embodiment of acleaning device 85 according to the invention having an actuating armfor an outwardly opening door according to the invention. In thisembodiment the interior of the device 85 may be similar to the otherembodiments described herein and in this case the main difference isthat the actuating arm 86 is generally wedge shaped. In the closedposition of the door, the arm 86 is pivoted inwardly against the bias ofthe spray head by the door frame so that the spray is activated as thedoor is closed and when the door is opened the arm is released to readythe apparatus to spray again when the door is next closed.

Referring now to FIGS. 17-20 there is shown another embodiments ofcleaning apparatus 90 according to the invention. In this embodiment theactuating arm 85 is separate from the housing. The actuating arm 85 ismounted in the interior of the door structure and comprises a springurged arm 85 which has an end which engages with the door frame. Theactuating arm has an extension part 87 having several holes 88, toreceive a trigger pin 89 which projects from the rear of the apparatus90. The trigger pin 89 is engaged inside the housing 90 with a slidablearm (slider) not shown.

The door 95 has a hole 96 cut in it to enable the trigger pin 89 toengage with one of the holes 88 in the extension part 87 of theactuating arm 85.

Therefore, when the door closes the arm 85 is pushed inwardly into thedoor 95 and with the pin 89 engaged in a hole 88, in the extension part87, the pin moves the slider (inside the housing 90) to activate thespray head.

It will be appreciated that suitable means may be provided to enablepositional adjustment of the spray head, in all embodiments of theinvention, so that the angle of the spray can be adjusted for optimaleffect. Such positional adjustment of the spray head can be achieved,for example, by providing suitable pins or holding elements on the base13 which enable the spray head to be located and held as desired.

The invention has particular applications in many environments includinghospitals, restaurants and other areas where members of the public arepresent. The invention will greatly assist in minimising and eliminatingthe spread of bacteria and infection from doors, door surfaces and doorhandles by reducing or eliminating contamination on the surfaces whichare regularly touched by many individuals.

The invention also has the advantage that it does not require a cammounted on the door frame to actuate the spray head since the actuatingarm can engage directly with the door frame. In particular, theactuating arm can be made of a plastics material which is suitablycontoured and moulded to minimise any impact with the door frame.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described herein whichmay be modified or varied without departing from the scope of theinvention.

1. A cleaning device for door handles and door push plates comprising ahousing for mounting on a door, the housing having a reservoir fordisinfectant liquid and a spray head, an actuating arm which projectsoutwardly from the housing and is in use operatively associated with adoor frame in which the door is mounted, such that opening or closing ofthe door causes movement of the actuating arm to operate the spray headand to spray a disinfectant liquid onto the door handle, door push plateor other door surface, wherein the actuating arm engages with the doorframe to operate the spray head.
 2. A cleaning device as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the actuating arm has a door engaging portion which inuse engages directly with the door frame when the door is in a closedposition.
 3. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the doorengaging portion of the actuating arm projects forwardly of a plane ofthe housing which abuts the door.
 4. A cleaning device as claimed inclaim 2 wherein the actuating arm has an actuating portion disposedwithin the housing and arranged to move a slidable arm to activate thespray head.
 5. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 4 wherein theactuating portion comprises a cam portion.
 6. A cleaning device asclaimed in claim 5 wherein the slidable arm has a cam surface whichengages with the cam portion on the actuating arm.
 7. A cleaning deviceas claimed in claim 1 wherein the reservoir of disinfectant liquidcomprises a flexible bag or pouch type container.
 8. A cleaning deviceas claimed in claim 7 wherein the bag has a conduit connected to thespray head.
 9. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 8 wherein theconduit is detachably attached to the slider and moves with the slider.10. A refill unit for the cleaning device of claim 4 comprising aflexible pouch of disinfectant liquid having a conduit for attaching tothe slider, and a spray head connected to the conduit.
 11. A cleaningdevice as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reservoir for disinfectantliquid is a container of solid wall construction moveably mounted withinthe housing.
 12. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 10 wherein thecontainer is pivotally mounted within the housing and moveable by anactuating portion of the actuating arm.
 13. A refill unit for thecleaning device as claimed in claim 11 comprising a solid walledcontainer having a spray head attached thereto.
 14. A cleaning device asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the actuating arm is mounted within the doorstructure and comprises a spring urged arm which has an end whichengages with the door frame.
 15. A cleaning device as claimed in claim14 wherein the actuating arm has an extension part having a hole toreceive a trigger pin which projects from the rear of the housing sothat movement of the actuating arm causes movement of a slider withinthe housing to operate the spray head.
 16. A cleaning device as claimedin claim 1 wherein the actuating arm is wedge shaped and projects from asidewall of the housing.